Missing boater from AYC

quote:
Originally posted by walterv

I don't get how any boater would not stop and help someone they hit. If I was drunk, (I never operate a boat or a car drunk) and hit someone, I would rather spend a night in jail, than kill someone. Hence, I would stop and help! It disgusts me what happened. This young man could have been saved, he died because a coward hit him and rather than take the heat, he let a man die! That is repulsive and gross!!!

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You pointed out the difference. You wouldn't operate a boat drunk. Unfortunately there are others who do, and some who do it frequently.
It's getting to be a more serious problem. Especially since average pleasure boats are getting bigger and others are getting a lot faster while the waters are getting more crowded on weekends and holidays.
My kids have an 18' bowrider, and I discourage them from taking it out during busy weekend hours. It's just too dangerous out there at certain times for smaller boats.
 
I was out on my 17 Whaler last evening about 5:30 to 7:30 in the area of Massapequa, and amity cut. I have never seen more stupidity and dangerous boating in my life. Most of the boats were coming north up the cut and a lot of boats were heading west on there way home from a full day. The sun glare going west was impossible, the bay was like a washing machine, the eel grass was thick in spots. I had to stop 2 times to tilt my motor to clear the grass and have never felt so afraid in my life. There were many over loaded speeding boats heading into the sun with no regard to anyone around them. I saw one 17 ft bow rider with 9 people cut right in front of a 31 searay because he wasn't paying attention. The guy in the sea ray backed it down and hit horn and came with 10 feet of running the whole boatload over. It is crazy out there!!! There needs to be more patrols that time of night in that area... wow!!! Very sad that man was run over and the person ran. I can see not seeing the person and hitting them, but leaving the scene is the act of a coward. Last night was a parade of mostly moron boaters that have no clue. Im surprised there are not a lot more tragic accidents.

Off my soapbox now... thanks
 
Coming back from Watch Hill around 4:00 there was a distressed boat anchored right in front of robert moses bridge. I mean in the channel. With sun glare was hard to tell if he was sitting, fishing or what. I felt bad passing him on plane because I thought he was fishing and as usual, I don't come off plane for fishing people, but I will for distressed or in tow vessals.

With that said, he was in a small boat and didn't need alot of water. If he let himself drift a little more he would of drifted out of the channel and away from the bridge. Where he dropped anchor was not a good spot. Also alot of people don't realize but you should have some sort of orange flag aboard that shows distressed boat. Yeah, I know, not alot of time, but even having a lookout (which he did but was just watching him work) to wave people off or tell them to slow down.
 
On another a similar note. I was out on the water in Greenport on sat and while passing the breakwater I spot a 14ft skiff with 8 people ANCHORED in the middle of the channel. I'm not sure how they had enough anchor line! If you have been in Greenport you know the location I mean and its nowhere to stop and do anything.

I called the local Harbor patrol And advised him. Good thing is was early, or the first 30 -80 footer that went by would have swamped them.

I know we are all responsible for our wake, but the things I am seeing recently is just mind blowing.
 
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